Abstract. In this paper, we calculated comparable and dynamic ecosystem service value per unit area in the riparian zone of Second Songhua River; then we also estimated changes in the value of ecosystem services resulting from land use changes; finally, we continuously evaluated the riparian ecosystem service value based on 520 basic evaluation units (BEUs) and explored the trend of the riparian ecosystem service value from 1986 to 2012. The results indicated that comparable economic values of per unit area food production of farmland ecosystems in 2012 almost increased three times more than that in 1986 from 154.83 to 382.45 $ ha−1; the people's willingness to pay for farmland ecosystem services increased from 0.24 in 1986 to 0.48 in 2012; the land areas supporting the environment and society generally declined, whereas areas of farmland significantly increased from 1986 to 2012; the riparian total ecosystem service value increased from 42.30 million $ in 1986 to 119.67 million $ in 2012, with an average increase rate of 4.06 % yr−1; the ecosystem service value of four reaches all have seen a sharp increase from 1986 to 2012; the average ecosystem service value of a reach was the smallest one in the four reaches, and the value of c and d reach was significantly more than other two reaches.